Crate.



E. L. WALKER.

CRATE.

AAAAAAAAAA N FILED JUNE 20, 1906. RENEWED 0 GT. 3, 1910. 975,66 1Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

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E. L. WALKER.

Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

3 BHEBTS-SHEET 2.

E. L. WALKER.

CRATE.

. APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 20, 1906, RENEWED OCT. 3, 1910. 9"?5,66 1

Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

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Application filed June 20, 1906, Serial No. 322,508.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ENOS L. WALKER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and resident of Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau county,Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Crates,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to boxes or crates or other like receptacles.

Generally stated, my invention contemplates an improved knockdown crateor box for use in shipping eggs or other produce.

Special objects of my invention are the provision of improved means forsecuring the different parts of the box together; the provision of animproved construction for the different walls of the crate or box; theprovision of an improved construction by which the box or crate isrendered. more strong and serviceable than heretofore; the provision ofan improved construction and arrangement whereby the crate is at thesame time comparatively inexpensive to manufacture; and the provision ofcertain details and features of construction tending to increase thegeneral efficiency and serviceability of a box or crate of thisparticular character.

To the foregoing and other' useful ends my invention consists in mattershereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a crateembodying the principles of my invention, a portion of the top or coverbeing broken away to show the invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspectiveof one of the cover fasteners. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line33 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line i4c of Fig. 3. Fig.5 is a detail section of one corner of the box. Fig. 6 is a horizontalsection on line 66 in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a vertical sec tion on line7-''(' in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 shows another form of cover fastener. Fig. 9 isa detail perspective view of one end of one of the reinforcing strips.

As thus illustrated, my improved crate or box comprises a side A, abottom 13, another side G, end walls D and E, a middle wall F, and a topor cover G. The side A has an inner piece a and the side C has a similarinner piece 0. The two sides and the said bottom B are flexiblyconnected by strips H, I, J and K, each strip comprising three sectionsflexibly connected end to end Specification of Letters Patent.

FIQ.

Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

Renewed October 3, 1910. Serial No. 585,155.

by metal pieces 1. These strips are interposed between the inner andouter pieces or thicknesses of the sides, and are secured to the undersurface of the bottom B. At their centers, the said inner pieces of thesides are provided with slots a and 0 extending vertically thereof. Theend wall D has reinforcing strips L and M and N secured to the outsidethereof, and each (except the last) composed of three sections flexiblysecured end to end by small metal pieces 2. Said strips are alsoprovided with metal catch pieces 3, as shown more clearly in Fig. 9.

As shown, the strips H and K are notched, and the inner pieces a and care provided with notches or recesses -;t which. coincide with thenotches in the strips. These notches or recesses are spanned by narrowstrips of metal 5.

The end wall E is, of course, similar to the end wall D, and has acouple of reinforcing strips 0 and P and an upper strip Q. Preferably,the middle wall F has end sections f flexibly secured thereto by metalpieces (3. A single sheet or board constitutes the top or cover G, whichis reinforced by cross pieces or strips R and S. The metal fasteners Tare employed for securing the top or cover in place. The fasteners canbe of the kind shown in Fig. 8. In this case the fasteners U are notdoubled back for their full length.

lVhen constructed as shown, the sides and bottom constitute one flatblank. The end walls are each a flat blank. Also, the middle wall beforeinsertion is in the form of a flat blank. The cover is also, of course,flat. All of these can be shipped in a perfectly flat condition.

When the parts are assembled, the sides and bottom are bent intoposition, and the ends of the strips L and M, O and P are then insertedin the notches or recesses at. The metal catch pieces 3 slide under themetal strips 5 and thus lock the end walls in place. The end sections ofthe middle wall are then bent into position, and said wall. is theninserted downward in the slots (4 and 0 It will be seen that the endsections of the middle wall slide down between the inner and outersheets or thicknesses of the sides. When this is done, the top or coveris then secured in place by the metal fasteners. Thus all flexiblejoints are metal reinforced, and the entire box or crate is of sheetmaterial, such as veneer, each sheet or wall being reinforced by crossstrips.

I prefer'the form of cover fastener shown in Fig. 8. Any other form offastener may, however, be employed without departing from the spirit ofmy invention.

The box or crate thus constructed may be used for shipping eggs or otherproduce.

I do not, of course, limit myself to the exact construction shown anddescribed, as it is obvious that various ways may be employed for usingthe double walls in a box of this kind, and of removably securing thetransverse walls in place by means inserted between the inner and outerlayers of said walls, as well as of reinforcing the sides by means ofspacing pieces which extend crosswise of the grain of the walls of thebox, Without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention.

That I claim as my invention is:

l. A knockdown box or egg crate comprising inner and outer sheets ofmaterial separated by transverse spacing strips to form sides having airspaces therein, a bottom flexibly connected with the ends of said stripswhereby said double wall sides are flexibly connected with said bottom,transverse walls for said box, provided on their vertical edges withside portions engaging between the inner and outer sheets of said sidesto fix the said transverse walls in position between the said sides, anda suitable cover the said sides and bottom being formed from a blankdistinct from said transverse walls, as set forth.

2. A knock-down box or egg crate, having folding double sides, eachproviding a plurality of air spaces, a suitable bottom, and transversewalls provided on their vertical edges with means engaging between theinner and outer thicknesses of said sides, to hold the latter in place,whereby said transverse wall serves as a binder to hold the boxtogether, said walls removable to permit the sides and bottom to beshipped flat, as described.

3. In an egg crate, hollow sides, a bottom, and transverse walls eachprovided on the vertical edges thereof with means for engaging betweenthe inner and outer thicknesses of said sides, said walls removable topermit the sides and bottom to be shipped flat, as described.

4. In a box, sides made of thin sheets of wood with the grain runninglengthwise thereof, each side consisting of inner and outer sheets,vertical strips interposed between the said inner and outer sheets, withthe grain of the wood running at right angles thereto, means forfastening said sheets and strips together, a bottom having transversestrips flexibly connected with the lower ends of the said strips in thesides, and transverse walls for binding the box together, said wallshaving means for removably engaging the said sides, as set forth.

In a box, folding side and bottom walls flexibly connected together attheir edges, and removable transverse walls having means for removablyengaging the sides to lock the box together, the sides being flush andsmooth on their outer surfaces.

6. In a box, hollow sides, a bottom having its edges flexibly connectedwith the lower edges of the said sides, removable end walls for holdingthe box together, and means on said walls for locking them in place onthe vertical edges of the sides, as set forth.

7. In a box, hollow sides, a bottom flexibly connected therewith, saidsides each consisting of inner and outer sheets of wood withthe grainrunning lengthwise thereof, vertical strips interposed between saidinner and outer sheets, the inner sheets having vertical slots atransverse middle wall inserted in said slots having means engagingbetween said sheets, and end walls provided with means engaging betweensaid sheets at tlge ends of the box, said walls being remova le.

8. As an article of manufacture, a fold able box blank comprising a pairof hollow sides, a bottom, and means for flexibly connecting the sidesand bottom together, said sides thereby adapted to be spread out flat inthe plane of the bottom for transportation, and then folded at rightangles thereto for use, as set forth.

Signed by me at Cape Girardeau, Missouri,this 16th day of June, 1906.

ENOS L. IVALKER. Viitnesses:

EDWARD H. ENGEL'MAN, Gus B. ENGELMAN.

